For everything, there is a time–be patient
No one can achieve greatness and success without dreams. And Snehal Kakteekar agrees with this. A teen Snehal was determined to bag a good job and buy a house for her family in the future. Courtesy of her hard work and persistence, she achieved both the goals. “Always dream big,” she smiled. Currently working with Tieto India Pvt. Ltd., Pune, as a Software Engineer, she shares her journey with Corporate Citizen, a few tips for her juniors on how to prepare for campus placement and more
It is rightly said that focusing just on the results won’t fetch you the desired outcome. And for that, Snehal Kakteekar had a slightly different plan. Rather than just stressing about the results, she puts her energy into the actions that produce great results. “It is always important to have dreams. Without dreams, we are nothing. To make your dreams come true, you should take small yet impactful steps, which get you closer to your dreams,” stated Snehal. Be it the dream of bagging the scholarship for her college education or raising enough money to buy a house for her parents, Snehal’s hard work is a testament to her disciplined life.
A STUDIOUS GIRL
Born to into a humble Kakteekar family, she was raised in Pune where she completed her school and college education. Her family led a decent livelihood and instilled several good values in her. “Although I was raised in a modest family, they always made sure that I receive the right sort of education. There was no compromise when it came to learning. And the outcome has been great. What I am today is because of the blessings and support of my family and the Lila Poonawalla Foundation (LPF),” said a proud Snehal.
As a child, she was always into studies, not because of any pressure but as Snehal portrayed, “I loved to study and learn new things. And that habit continues even now.” Talking about her childhood days, she informed, “Paying attention during the lectures is half the work done. And the rest is taken care when you revise what is taught in the school and college, the same day. These are the crucial days of life which will provide you with a path for your future. Hence, I urge all the students to take it seriously.”
“My aim to excel in academics was stronger than ever. And courtesy of the Lila Poonawalla Foundation, I got the resources to complete my education”
- Snehal
Snehal KakteekarTHE GAME-CHANGER
After completing her BSc in Computer Science from MIT, Pune, with First Class and Distinction, she pursued her higher education in MSc in Computer Science from the same college. In today’s age, what matters is one’s love for education and ambition so strong that nothing can stop them; on the contrary, funds to gather that acumen comes secondary as there are several Samaritans, who are there to guide them. “My aim to excel in academics was stronger than ever. And courtesy of the Lila Poonawalla Foundation, I got the resources to complete my education. And frankly, I am forever indebted to them,” said a humble Snehal.
The Foundation provided her with the scholarship and groomed in a way that made her industry ready and able to face any obstacles in life. “The kind of knowledge that this Foundation instilled in me prepared me for the best. I attended several of their programmes that taught me the virtues of leadership, patience, and determination. Their soft skills and career guidance programme made me ready for the campus placement rounds. The etiquettes that I learned in the grooming sessions came in handy when I got a chance to travel abroad for work,” she said.
READY FOR THE INDUSTRY
During her post-graduation days, she was a completely changed person. Her interest in learning new things grew and she became more of an outgoing person. This, in turn, helped to flare well during her internship. After her successful internship with Tieto India Pvt. Ltd, she was instantly hired as their full time employee. “For me, my internship was a stepping stone. I gave my best during the scouting programme and did not leave a single stone unturned during the internship. Owing to which, I was asked to join them full time after the course was over,” she said. Further adding, “For everything, there is a time, and I knew I will achieve my goal if I continue the way I was preparing. I did not think about the results nor got disheartened when I failed. Rather, I always learned from my experience.”
Her shining highlights of life are getting the crown of the Peace Ambassador for the LPF, buying her dream house and her on sight call to visit Europe for work. Moving on, she said, “It’s been more than three years that I am working with my current organisation and I have grown leaps and bounds. The work is surprisingly good. However, I hope to pursue and focus on my hobbies to give me that work-life balance. Also, I wish to be a good Samaritan for others, just the way LPF showed me the way in the dark days.”
As Snehal Kakteekar settles in well in the corporate world, she passes on a few tips for her juniors on how to prepare for campus placement and more…
Online studies: There is a lot of content available online which can help you prepare for all the campus placement rounds. For the aptitude test, solve as many papers as you can. There are unique sets of papers on the net. For your GD and PI rounds, make use of YouTube. The videos there will give you a 360 degree view of what to accept and how to prepare for these rounds.
Make notes: To get through the personal interview round, one needs to prepare thoroughly. You can drive the interview, your way by making notes and rehearsing the talks. Once you understand what and how you are going to deliver, personal interview rounds will be effortless.
Access your performance: At times, you won’t get through all the rounds. Times like these, never think of giving up. After every round, assess your performance and jot down your shortcomings and strengths. Further, make utmost use of your plus points and work harder on your weakness. In this way, you will surely get closer to your dream.
Follow a schedule: Consistency and hard work will take you a long way. Habits are not built overnight, for that you must follow a schedule. Always prepare a to-do-list, and make sure to achieve it. This art when followed efficiently will help you in decision-making, reducing stress, saving time and will prepare you for your goals.
Be a dreamer: A dreamer will find a way in the darkest of the days and makes the most of the moonlight. But for that, one must a dreamer. Set goals and targets. This gives you a sense of excitement, and when you achieve it, the feeling cannot be expressed in words.